African Traditional Socio-Political Ideals, Democratic Values, and the Development of African States (Published)
The democratic socio-political formation of modern African states can be seen as a bold step in quest for a better human society. However, particular existential problems part of which arises from the composition of these states in Africa pose potent dangers to political stability, peace, well-being of the polity, and development of these states. This paper proposes authentic route out of this unwholesome situation that gets worse by the day notwithstanding immense human and natural resources of African states. It argues that a constructive synthesis “harmonious integration” of African traditional socio-political communitarian ideals with the time-tested-and-proven guiding provisions of democratic values would help solve many socio-political problems of African states and advance their needed sustainable development and flourishing. To this effect, it maintains that mass education using of all avenues of public enlightenment should be upheld therein; it specifically advocates that effective ethical leadership education should be introduced as a course and given emphasis in the curriculum of educational institutions in African states; and then enjoins conscious positive attitudinal change of the citizenry so as to bring about the needed result.
Keywords: African Traditional Socio-Political Ideals, Community, Democratic Values, Development, Harmonious Integration
“UBUNTU”: THE ITINERARY, IMPORT AND UTILITY OF THE IDEA (Published)
Ubuntu has become a buzz word in Southern African. These days, there is talk of ‘Ubuntu magazine’, ‘Ubuntu software,’ ‘ubuntu style of management’, ‘ubuntu ethics’, ‘Ubuntu foods’, ‘ubuntu psychology’(Washington 2010) and so on. The concept has gained a lot of currency with the completion of the de-colonization of South Africa in 1994. The question is; what is the meaning and import of the term?This paper is a philosophical examination of the concept historically and critically, with the view of determining its expediency in matters to do with nation-building, democracy and good governance all of which pervade contemporary African thought. Given the processes of globalization, can the concept make any impact? Is there utility of the concept in the development of the sub-region?